Molecular Dynamics Study of Polymer-Water Interaction in Hydrogels. 1. Hydrogen-bond Structure.

Y. Tamai, H. Tanaka, K. Nakanishi

Macromolecules, 29, 6750-6760 (1996)


Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed for hydrogel models of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinyl methylether) (PVME), and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNiPAM). The spatial distributions and stability of hydrogen-bonds in the vicinity of polymer segments are analyzed to investigate the properties of water which is highly cooperative with the surrounding polymer chains. Water-water hydrogen-bonds are enhanced around hydrophobic groups especially for PVME and PNiPAM by the hydrophobic hydration. Hydrogen-bonds are also stabilized around hydrophilic groups for PVME and PNiPAM. The stabilization is accounted for by a severe constraint of the mutual orientation between water and polar group.
Copyright (c) 1997 Yoshinori Tamai